[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

west \west\, n. as. west, adv.; akin to d. west, g. west,
   westen, ohg. westan, icel. vestr, sw. vest, vester, vestan,
   dan. vest, vesten, and perhaps to l. vesper evening, gr. ?.
   ????. cf. vesper, visigoth.
   1913 webster
   1. the point in the heavens where the sun is seen to set at
      the equinox; or, the corresponding point on the earth;
      that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which
      is in a direction at right angles to that of north and
      south, and on the left hand of a person facing north; the
      point directly opposite to east.
      1913 webster

            and fresh from the west is the free wind's breath.
                                                  --bryant.
      1913 webster

   2. a country, or region of country, which, with regard to
      some other country or region, is situated in the direction
      toward the west.
      1913 webster

   3. specifically:
      a the westen hemisphere, or the new world so called, it
          having been discovered by sailing westward from
          europe; the occident.
      b u. s. hist.  geog. formerly, that part of the
          united states west of the alleghany mountains; now,
          commonly, the whole region west of the mississippi
          river; esp., that part which is north of the indian
          territory, new mexico, etc. usually with the definite
          article.
          1913 webster

   west by north, west by south, according to the notation
      of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 111/4deg
      to the north or south, respectively, of the point due
      west.

   west northwest, west southwest, that point which lies
      221/2deg to the north or south of west, or halfway
      between west and northwest or southwest, respectively. see
      illust. of compass.
      1913 webster
see also:
vesper visigoth west by north west by south west northwest west southwest 
compass 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

west northwest
     n : the compass point midway between west and northwest syn: wnw
see also:
wnw 

Northwest >> N Words
Northwest, definition of term: Northwest
northwest_pag1.html

West >> W Words
West, definition of term: West
west_pag1.html

West Bank >> W Words
West Bank, definition of term: West Bank
west+bank_pag1.html

West Country >> W Words
West Country, definition of term: West Country
west+country_pag1.html

West County >> W Words
West County, definition of term: West County
west+county_pag1.html

Northwest Passa >> N Words
Northwest Passa, definition of term: Northwest Passa
northwest+passa_pag1.html

Key West >> K Words
Key West, definition of term: Key West
key+west_pag1.html

Mae West >> M Words
Mae West, definition of term: Mae West
mae+west_pag1.html

Due West >> D Words
Due West, definition of term: Due West
due+west_pag1.html